Necrotising fasciitis is a severe soft-tissue infection. We are used to infections being treated with antibiotics, so why is surgery the essential treatment for this condition?
Necrotising fasciitis activity
Necrotising fasciitis can be caused by a wide variety of pathogens which begin their deadly activity once they have entered the body and reached the deep soft tissue.
The impact of this terrifying infection is that it causes the complete destruction of the tissue it infects and then continues to spread to surrounding tissue. Unless it is stopped, this process will continue until the patient’s organs fail and the patient dies.
The problem is that the very means of delivery of antibiotic support – the blood vessels – can be affected by the necrotising fasciitis infection and so they may no longer be able to function effectively.
Surgical debridement
Therefore, the only effective way to try to remove all infection from the patient’s body completely is to use surgery. Surgical debridement (or removal of tissue) is almost always necessary when a patient has necrotising fasciitis. In most patients more than one debridement procedure will be necessary to ensure that all infected tissue has been removed.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that necrotising fasciitis can spread very rapidly, this can mean that the patient requires significant amounts of tissue to be removed before they are free of infection. Where the infection has affected the legs, this can necessitate the amputation of one or both legs. Patients have also been known to lose fingers and an upper limb to the infection.
Minimising surgery
Clearly, extensive surgery needs to be avoided at all costs, especially where such extreme surgery as a limb amputation may be necessary.
In order for the minimum debridement to be used in tackling necrotising fasciitis, an early diagnosis and early treatment is required. The sooner debridement can begin, and the more successful the first debridement procedures are, the better chance the patient usually has of surviving and avoiding amputation or severe surgery generally.
Medical negligence
A prompt diagnosis is, therefore, crucial for this shocking condition. Where symptoms of a severe infection, especially in at-risk groups such as patients with diabetes or who are obese, are ignored or misdiagnosed, the outcome can be catastrophic.
Where the opportunity to investigate and diagnose necrotising fasciitis has been missed, it may be appropriate to pursue a claim for compensation.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are suffering the appalling long-term impact of necrotising fasciitis due to a medical failure, contact us to discuss your situation with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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